Members of the community listen during the monthly prayer breakfasts held at Lumpkin Road Baptist Church.

Rabbi Don Lansing (from left), Bishop Greg Francisco and Nan Shafer bow their heads in prayer during the Community Prayer Breakfast at Lumpkin Road Baptist Church. The city of Augusta is limiting employee involvement in Mayor Deke Copenhaver's monthly prayer breakfasts in response to threats of litigation from a Wisconsin-based group that champions the separation of church and state.

Jeanette Hernandez listens from behind a screen as the Rev. Chuck Hunt prays during the Community Prayer Breakfast at Lumpkin Road Baptist Church. The city of Augusta is limiting employee involvement in Mayor Deke Copenhaver's monthly prayer breakfasts in response to threats of litigation from a Wisconsin-based group that champions the separation of church and state.

The Rev. Chuck Hunt prays during the Community Prayer Breakfast at Lumpkin Road Baptist Church on Tuesday. The city of Augusta is limiting employee involvement in Mayor Deke Copenhaver's monthly prayer breakfasts in response to threats of litigation from a Wisconsin-based group that champions the separation of church and state.

A crowd of 50 turned out for the first Community Prayer Breakfast since the city decided to limit employee involvement at what was previously known as the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

In July, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group that advocates separation of church and state, questioned Augusta’s use of city resources to promote and plan the monthly breakfasts.

Three volunteers now lead the effort.

“We had a real good turnout,” said the Rev. Chuck Hunt, a volunteer. “This was the first time volunteers took on the communications and made arrangements for the mayor and the churches.”

The breakfast is free and open to members of all religions.

The next event will be held at the Kroc Center at 8 a.m. Sept. 25, the last Tuesday of the month.

For more information, contact Hunt at (706) 796-2091 or mayorsprayerbreakfast@yeslord.com.